New York (New York) - January 22, 2015 - The Honourable Steven Blaney, Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today delivered a statement addressing concerns of a worldwide rise in Anti-Semitism. The speech was delivered at an informal meeting organized in New York by the United Nations General Assembly.
Minister Blaney addressed the assembly and delivered the statement to more than 50 UN member states who also participated in the meeting.
“Canada is deeply concerned about the alarming increase in anti-Semitism worldwide. We have seen recent violent events against Jews at home and abroad, whether at a Kosher Grocery in Paris or at a Jewish synagogue in Edmonton, that convey a clear message of hatred towards Jewish people.
Canada knows that history has shown that the enemies of freedom and democratic rights often target the Jews first.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government will continue our leadership role in Canada and internationally to combat anti-Semitism, including efforts to promote Holocaust remembrance, education and research, especially through our involvement in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and to advance our coordinated global effort against hatred and anti-Semitism including attempts to delegitimize Israel such as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
More work needs to be done to combat the scourge of discrimination inherent to anti-Semitism. As I said to Jews I met this year in Israel, Paris and in Canada: Canada is your friend and Canada is your ally, we stand with you.”
In 2010, Canada hosted the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating anti-Semitism and led the creation of the Ottawa Protocol on Combating anti-Semitism, an Action Plan to share ideas and exchange practices about the best ways to combat anti-Semitism around the world.
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Jason Tamming
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-991-2924
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
media@ps-sp.gc.ca
